BILL NUMBER: AB 1645	CHAPTERED  10/10/99

	CHAPTER   965
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   OCTOBER 10, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 9, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   SEPTEMBER 7, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JULY 8, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 15, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Agriculture (Cardoza (Chair), Maldonado
(Vice Chair), Brewer, Florez, Frusetta, House, Reyes, Thomson, and
Wiggins)

                        MARCH 4, 1999

   An act to add Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 8980) to Part 6
of the Education Code, relating to agricultural education, and making
an appropriation therefor.

      (Approved by Governor October 10, 1999.  Filed with
Secretary of State October 10, 1999.)

   I am signing Assembly Bill No. 1645; however, I am eliminating the
$127,500 appropriation to the State Department of Education made in
subdivision (a) of Section 2.  The bill provides that this
appropriation is for expenditure "exclusively for staff."
Appropriate funding levels for staff are typically determined in the
annual budget change proposal process based on a workload analysis
and in consideration of all other priorities.  Given that the
department has eight staff already devoted to this area, it should be
able to implement this bill without additional staff.
   I am, however, sustaining the one-time $300,000 appropriation
which will be used to develop an agricultural education curriculum.
Agriculture plays a vital role in California's culture and economy.
This bill will help ensure that agriculture is given the appropriate
emphasis in our curriculum so that out children grow up recognizing
its value.
                                                 GRAY DAVIS, Governor



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1645, Committee on Agriculture.  Agricultural education.
   Under existing law there is, within the State Department of
Education, an agricultural vocational education unit to assist school
districts in the establishment and maintenance of agricultural
vocational educational programs.
   This bill would enact the Agricultural Education Act of 1999 and
would require the State Department of Education to establish a
comprehensive agricultural education program for prekindergarten and
kindergarten children and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to provide
statewide coordination for agricultural education in California
schools.  This program would include, but would not be limited to,
the development, review and dissemination of curriculum, the
development of statewide educational activities for pupils, state
level consultation with local education agencies, agricultural
organizations, and universities and colleges, for materials review,
professional development, and support, and the coordination and
monitoring of the regional agricultural education program delivery.
This program would also provide for regional delivery of education in
agricultural awareness, literacy, career exploration, and
preparation activities.
   This bill would appropriate $127,500 from the General Fund to the
State Department of Education for expenditure for staff for purposes
of the comprehensive agricultural education program that would be
established by the bill.  The bill would also appropriate $300,000
from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for
purposes of curriculum development for agricultural education.
   Appropriation:  yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 8980) is added to
Part 6 of the Education Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 9.  AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

   8980.  This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
Agricultural Education Act of 1999.
   8981.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) Agriculture is one of the most important industries in
California.  Gross income from production agriculture annually
exceeds twenty-six billion eight hundred million dollars
($26,800,000,000).  Support industries in agricultural marketing,
business, research, communications, and education contribute another
ten billion dollars ($10,000,000,000) to the state's economy and
exports annually exceeds six billion dollars ($6,000,000,000).
   (b) During 1998, approximately 399,000 agricultural jobs were
performed by farmworkers, who, through their tireless efforts, have
contributed greatly to the success of the agricultural industry.
   (c) There is currently no comprehensive agricultural education
program for California's pupils.  According to the National Academy
of Sciences, most Americans have insufficient knowledge about the
social and economic significance of agriculture and its links to
human health and environmental quality.  Many of the challenges
facing the state clearly require an understanding of these linkages
if solutions are to be found.  These challenges include changing
demographics, rapid urbanization, responding to worldwide food and
fiber supply needs, changing domestic and world trade policies, and
increased global competition in raw agricultural commodities and
value added products.
   (d) Pupils need to understand all of the following:
   (1) The role that agriculture plays in the economy.
   (2) The role science plays in changing agriculture.
   (3) The relationship of agriculture and the environment.
   (4) The wide variety of employment opportunities that exist in the
industry.
   (e) A basic education across curriculum subjects, and grade levels
can strengthen students' understanding, of agriculture and its
fundamental importance to society.
   (f) It is in the best interest of the public that a statewide
comprehensive program, with state level coordination and regional
delivery, be established to infuse agricultural education into a
broad range of academic subject areas, provide a stronger career
preparation program to meet the needs of a dynamic and competitive
agricultural industry in California, and to provide for better
informed citizens in the state.
   8982.  (a) The State Department of Education, in consultation with
the State Agricultural Advisory Committee shall establish a
nonmandatory comprehensive agricultural education program for
prekindergarten and kindergarten children and grades 1 to 12,
inclusive, to provide statewide coordination for agricultural
education in California schools.
   (b) The program shall include, but shall not be limited to, the
following elements:
   (1) The development, review and dissemination of curriculum and
instruction materials to ensure accuracy, grade appropriateness, and
support of State Standards and Frameworks.
   (2) Professional development for student teachers and practicing
teachers.
   (3) The development of statewide educational activities for
pupils.
   (4) State level consultation with local education agencies,
agricultural organizations, and universities and colleges, for
materials review, professional development, and support.
   (5) The coordination and monitoring of the regional agricultural
education program delivery.
   (c) The program shall provide for regional delivery of education
in agricultural awareness, literacy, career exploration, and
preparation activities that include, but not be limited to, the
following:
   (1) Development of collaborative models, utilizing matching state
and community-based funds, to develop objective, age appropriate
materials for use in classrooms within each of California's
agriculture production regions.
   (2) Technical assistance to local districts and private parties,
including agricultural foundations, agricultural associations,
nonprofit trade associations and businesses.
   (3) Development of a statewide resource center.
   (4) Coordination and delivery of professional development
activities on a regional basis.
   (5) Coordination of regional pupil activities.
   (6) Coordination and monitoring of funding within the regions.
  SEC. 2.  (a) The amount of one hundred twenty-seven thousand five
hundred dollars ($127,500) is hereby appropriated from the General
Fund to the State Department of Education for expenditure exclusively
for staff for purposes of Section 8982 of the Education Code.  It is
the intent of the Legislature to appropriate two hundred fifty-five
thousand dollars ($255,000) annually, commencing in the 2000-01
fiscal year, from the General Fund to the State Department of
Education for expenditure exclusively for staff for purposes of
Section 8982 of the Education Code.
   (b) The amount of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) is
hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of
Education as a one-time expenditure for purposes of curriculum
development for agricultural education.
